Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Man found guilty of defacing National Monument but receives no punishment
A man who vandalized the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam on August 16, 2025, has been found guilty by a court but will not receive a penalty. The court determined that no additional punis...
Macron meets Syrian president shortly after explosions in Damascus
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. The meeting occurred shortly after two explosions were reported in the Syrian capital.
Massive farewell to killed Khamenei in Qom as well
A massive crowd gathered in the holy city of Qom, Iran, to pay their final respects to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Reports indicate that millions of people, including mourners from various n...
Foreign media skewer Trump after US defeat to Belgium: 'Who are you going to call now, Donald?'
International media have criticized Donald Trump following the United States' 4-1 loss to Belgium in the 2026 World Cup. Trump had previously intervened regarding the suspension of American striker Fo...
Moscow mayor reports major drone attack from Ukraine
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that over 430 drones were launched from Ukraine toward the Russian capital on Monday night. Most of the drones were intercepted by air defense systems, with 36 de...
Judge to decide if British tabloids hacked Prince Harry
Prince Harry and six other high-profile individuals have accused British tabloids of violating their privacy through illegal practices, including phone hacking and the use of private investigators. A ...
Netherlands recruits 29 top scientists who left the US under Trump
Twenty-nine top scientists have moved to the Netherlands from the United States following political tensions in the academic sector under Donald Trump. The move was facilitated by a specialized fund d...
FvD councilor Moriah Hartman becomes kindergarten teacher at 'Forum School' in Almere: 'With us, evolution and climate change are just theories again'
Moriah Hartman, a current FVD council member in Haarlem, will begin working as a teacher at the new Renaissance school in Almere this August. The school aims to present topics like evolution and clima...
Democrats ask Platner to drop out of midterm race
Democratic Party members are increasingly calling for Graham Platner to withdraw from the midterm race following allegations of sexual assault. Politico reported on Monday that a former acquaintance a...
From 'no room here' to 'we're already doing so much': five reasons municipalities aren't complying with the dispersal law
The Dutch government has identified several municipalities failing to comply with the new dispersal law regarding asylum seekers. While some municipalities are outright refusing, most cite logistical ...
Majority of Dutch people support higher inheritance tax on large estates
A study by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis indicates that a majority of Dutch citizens support higher inheritance taxes on large estates. The research highlights growing public bac...
WEF founder Schwab files police report after discovery of listening device
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has filed a police report in Geneva after discovering a listening device in his home office. The investigation into the security breach is currently underway.
Netherlands pledges 3 billion for air defense and navy in Ankara
The Netherlands is set to announce over 3 billion euros in defense contracts at the upcoming NATO summit, focusing on air defense and naval capabilities. Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz confirmed th...
Five years after the attack on Peter R. de Vries: I miss the camaraderie
Exactly five years after the fatal shooting of Peter R. de Vries in Amsterdam, colleagues and family are commemorating his life and professional legacy. De Vries, who served as a confidant to a key wi...
Macron first EU leader to visit Syria after fall of Assad
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Syria, becoming the first European Union leader to visit the country since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The visit marks a sig...
Rutte: arms industry cannot handle even higher defense budgets
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the European defense industry has reached its capacity to process orders due to the rapid increase in defense spending by member states. He noted that the...
Beverwijk wants to discuss asylum reception with minister
The municipality of Beverwijk has requested a meeting with the Minister of Asylum and Migration regarding the provision of asylum seeker housing. The government has summoned Beverwijk and nine other D...
Chinese missile threat should keep NATO alert, says Rutte
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that China's recent missile test in the Pacific Ocean serves as a warning that the alliance must take the country's military advancements seriously. He emphasi...
Netanyahu asks US not to sell F-35s to Turkey
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the United States to halt the sale of F-35 fighter jets and components to Turkey. Netanyahu argues that such a transaction would disrupt the regiona...
North Holland, national government and other provinces create better habitat for the black-tailed godwit
Seven provinces and the Dutch national government have established an agreement to improve habitats and protect the declining black-tailed godwit population. As the country is home to approximately 80...
How many times has Rutte kissed Trump's ass? And does it matter?
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has been observed actively praising and complimenting President Donald Trump in recent weeks. The article questions the frequency and significance of this approach in...
Rutte stands up for press and protest after crackdown in Turkey
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of press freedom and the right to protest ahead of a summit in Ankara. While stopping short of a direct condemnation of host nation Turkey, ...
Cabinet increases pressure on ten municipalities not complying with dispersal law
The Dutch cabinet is increasing pressure on ten municipalities to comply with the asylum dispersal law. These municipalities are currently failing to meet their obligations under the new legislative r...
Rutte: Europe and Canada now spending around 4 percent of GDP on defense
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that European member states and Canada are currently investing approximately 4 percent of their GDP in defense and security. He noted that these nations are on...
New rescue attempt for black-tailed godwit: 35 areas and 35,000 hectares to save national bird from extinction
Dutch Minister of Nature Jaimi van Essen and seven provinces have launched a new conservation initiative to prevent the extinction of the black-tailed godwit. The project aims to restore 35,000 hectar...
Corné Borst is alderman for housing, Ron Suanet will monitor the otter. This is how the Heemskerk executive board divides its tasks
The municipal council of Heemskerk has finalized the distribution of portfolios among its aldermen. Key appointments include Corné Borst as the alderman for housing and Ron Suanet taking responsibili...
Zijlstraat, Cronjé and Kleverpark shopping areas partly excluded from higher parking rates: 'Benefits local economy'
The Haarlem city council has decided to exempt parking areas and garages in the Zijlstraat, Cronjé, and Kleverpark shopping districts from planned rate increases. The current 'stop and shop' rate of ...
Ukraine attacks oil refinery deep inside Russia
Ukraine has conducted a drone attack on Russia's largest oil refinery located in the Omsk region. This strike marks one of the furthest targets hit from the Ukrainian border since the beginning of the...
Government did not want to buy Solvinity itself, company claims
Solvinity, the manager of the DigiD platform, approached the Dutch government with an offer to be acquired, but the government declined the proposal. Lawyers representing the company disclosed this in...
Supporters of the former Shah of Iran's son gather in The Hague
Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Malieveld and the House of Representatives in The Hague to demonstrate their support for Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi. Pahlavi, the son of the former S...